1936 Washington Senators
The 1936 Washington Senators won 82 games, lost 71, and finished in third place in the American League. They were managed by Bucky Harris and played home games at Griffith Stadium.
This club (the 1936 Senators) put forth a much more spirited effort (than the 1935 one). There was leadership from old champions Harris and Bluege. There was some slugging, provided by Kuhel and Stone. There was a newfound cohesion after the trade of Jake Powell, and plenty of team speed (the Senators led the league in triples for the sixth consecutive year) supplemented by the addition of Ben Chapman. Young players Travis and Lewis made enormous contributions, and of course there was the constant presence of the raucous Bobo Newsom.
The Senators in 1936 were a winning ballclub again, finishing with 82 wins, 11 games above .500. This was good for a tie for third place with the Chicago White Sox, but a long way from the World Series. The Nats finished an even 20 games behind the Yankees, who defeated the Giants in six games in the fall classic. The previous year's World Series hero was Goose Goslin, who had singled in the winning run in the sixth and final game with two out in the ninth. (It was during this Series, as well, that umpire Bill Klem was sharply rebuked and fined by Commissioner Kenesaw Landis for dressing Goslin down as a result of a heated on-field discussion.) This year's (World Series) hero was none other than Jake Powell, who had ten hits and batted .455. (The Washington Senators by Tom Deveaux.)
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